Awards celebrate proud young people
By Mary Dennehy
LAST Thursday Tallaght Stadium was brimming with positivity, inspiration and hope for the future as young people gathered for the inaugural Garda Youth Awards - DMR South.
Initiated in West Cork in 1995, the awards are celebrated throughout the country but this is the first time they’ve been run in the capital.
Tallaght Stadium hosted the inaugural Garda Youth awards.
Celebrating outstanding young people between the ages of 13 and 21 years, the awards ceremony last week recognised the impact young people have throughout the areas of DMR South - and the positive steps they take each day to enhance the lives of their friends, families and communities.
The DMR South division includes Tallaght, Crumlin and Terenure and their respective sub-districts of Rathfarnham, Sundrive Road and Rathmines.
These communities are served by the Luas Red Line, with Transdev, the Luas operator, coming on board to support and deliver the awards – and to celebrate the links between Luas, gardai and communities.
Young people were nominated under the categories of Individual Award, Group Award, Special Achievement Award and Community Safety Award.
All nominees were recognised on the night and received award certificates, with the four category winners now going forward to represent DMR South in the national final of the Garda Youth Awards.
Speaking on the night, Chief Superintendent Kevin Gralton said: “All of the young people and groups nominated are winners.
“Getting involved and contributing to your community by helping others or demonstrating leadership in a local initiative benefits everyone – skills are developed, friendships are formed and voluntary and community groups are sustained.
“The work being done by these outstanding young people helps to keep communities together and improves the overall quality of life for everyone.”
He added: “The nominees are exceptional and the competition was very high.
“The Garda DMR South Division is enriched by your voluntary contributions and impressive leadership.
“On behalf of An Garda Siochana – thank you.”
Seamus Egan, MD of Transdev Dublin Light Rail Limited stressed how “proud” Luas was to support young people and community groups along their Red line.
“It’s inspiring to see young people develop themselves and their communities”, Mr Egan said.
“We are a mobility company and we are proud to support their personal development and social mobility.”
The Echo Newspaper was delighted to support the awards and to assist on the judging panel with Sr Bernadette Sweeney from St Agnes’ Musical Society in Crumlin, Mary McCaffrey, Luas driver, Damien Woods, Security and Revenue Co-ordinator with Transdev, and community volunteer John McCarthy.
The Garda Band was also present on the night.
